Downhole apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for perforating a section of liner intersecting a hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprises a length of tubing, the wall of the tubing defining a plurality of apertures, and perforating charges being located in the apertures. The tubing is adapted for mounting on the lower end of a length of production or test tubing such that the formation fluid may flow into the tubing and then directly into the production or test tubing. The charges disintegrate on detonation to leave the apertures unobstructed and to form light or small parts which may be swept out of the well by the formation fluid. Following detonation of the charges, the flow area of the tubing corresponds to the tubing internal diameter.

This invention relates to downhole apparatus, and in particular but notexclusively to apparatus for use in sealing and locating a length oftubing within a casing-lined borehole. The invention also relates to aperforating system.

Boreholes drilled to gain access to underground hydrocarbon-bearingformations are typically lined over most of their length by steelcasing. If tests are to be carried out on a hydrocarbon-bearingformation, or oil or gas is to be extracted from the formation, test orproduction tubing is lowered into the borehole, and fluid communicationwith the surface is achieved through the tubing. Conventionally, thetubing is located relative to the casing, and the annulus between thecasing and the tubing sealed, using one or more expandable or inflatablepackers. Such packers are set when the tubing is in position in theborehole by, for example, inflating the packers with pressurised wellfluid. Such setting operations may be time-consuming and often encounterdifficulties. Further, the tubing consists of a plurality of threadedsections and the tubing must be tested for pressure integrity as thesections are made up and lowered into the borehole. Such “completion”testing is achieved by pressurising the tubing using well fluid, whichmay result in inflation and premature setting of the packers.

It is among the objects of embodiments of the present invention toprovide an apparatus and a method for sealing and locating tubing incasing which obviate or mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

The section of casing or liner which intersects the hydrocarbon-bearingformation is initially solid, to prevent the production fluid fromflowing into the bore until the production tubing is in place and all ofthe associated apparatus and systems have been prepared. The liner isperforated by explosive charges or guns, typically spaced individualcharges which are lowered into the bore and detonated at an appropriatelocation. The charges may be lowered into the bore on electric wireline,slickline or coiled tubing. However, as the length of the perforatingguns which may be used is limited by the depth of the safety valve inthe wellbore, and the length of liner to be perforated is generallylonger than this depth, a perforating operation will tend to involve anumber of runs and thus is relatively time consuming. Further, it isdesirable to carry out “underbalanced” perforating, in which thepressure within the wellbore is lower than the formation pressure suchthat, following perforation, the debris produced by the perforatingoperation is washed out of the wellbore by the higher pressure formationfluid. In the absence of such a pressure differential the debris may bepushed into the perforations, restricting the flow of production fluidinto the wellbore. When carrying out a perforating operation usingwireline, slickline or coiled tubing which requires a number of runsonly the first perforating operation may be underbalanced.

Guns have been mounted on the lower end of production tubing, thusreducing the need for separate runs and separate perforating operations.However, the remains of the charges and firing arrangements which occupythe wellbore following the perforating operation reduces the internalarea of the tubing, thus reducing the production capability of the well.This debris may be milled out, such that it falls to the bottom of thewell. However, to accommodate the debris from several thousand meters ofperforating guns requires the drilling of a substantial extra section ofbore, which may take several weeks' drilling, adding substantially tothe drilling cost for the wellbore.

It is among the objectives of embodiments of the present invention toobviate or mitigate these difficulties.

According to the present invention there is providing perforatingapparatus comprising a length of tubing, the wall of the tubing defininga plurality of apertures, and perforating charges being located in theapertures.

The invention also relates to a perforating method utilising suchapparatus.

In use, when the charges are detonated, the charges disintegrate toleave the apertures clear and to permit formation fluid to flow throughthe apertures into the tubing. The use of tubing as a mounting for thecharges allows a perforating “gun” of considerable length (typically4000 to 7000 m) to be provided, such that a wellbore may be perforatedin a single operation, facilitating underbalance perforating.

The tubing is preferably mounted on the lower end of a length ofproduction or test tubing such that the formation fluid may flow intothe tubing and then directly into the production or test tubing.

Preferably, the charges disintegrate on detonation to form light orsmall parts which may be swept out of the well by the formation fluid.

Preferably also, following detonation of the charges the flow area ofthe tubing corresponds to the tubing internal diameter.

Preferably also, each charge is locatable in a respective aperture fromthe tubing exterior. Each charge may include a cap adapted to engagewith the respective aperture.

Preferably also, the charges are linked by explosive transfer means forcommunicating a detonation signal to each charge. Most preferably, theexplosive transfer means extends through the interior of the tubing. Thetransfer means will typically be in the form of one or more tracks ofdetonation cord.

Preferably also, the tubing is provided in separable tubing sections,each section carrying a number of charges.

The sections may be connected by any suitable means, but are preferablyconnected by threaded collars rotatably mounted on the end of onesection for engaging a corresponding threaded portion on the end of anadjacent section. Preferably also, the sections are provided withconnectors for explosive transfer means for linking the charges inadjacent guns. Most preferably, the connectors include booster and maydefine female booster connection and receive a respective end of acentral male booster connection portion. Most preferably, the malebooster connection portion may be located in the female boosterconnections after the tubing sections have been placed end-to-end.

Preferably also, the apparatus includes firing means for initiatingdetonation of the charges. The firing means may be activated by one ormore of electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means.

Preferably, the firing means is provided in combination with a valve,such as our Full Bore Isolation Valve (FBIV) as described inPCT\GB97\00308, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. Most preferably, the valve includes a valve portion,preferably a valve seat, which is movable on pressure being bled offabove the valve and the valve opening, which movement of the valve seatreleases a firing pin actuating arrangement. The firing pin actuatingarrangement preferably incorporates a spring tending to bias the firingpin to a firing position, which spring is released by upward movement ofthe valve seat. Alternatively, the firing pin may itself be hydraulicpressure actuated, and may be initially retained in a primed position bya rupture disc or retainer which is releases the firing pin onapplication of a predetermined fluid pressure thereto.

Preferably also, a plug is provided at the end of the tubing, which plugis blown from the tube when the charges are detonated.

According to the another aspect of the present invention there isprovided apparatus for locating and sealing tubing in a casing-linedborehole, the apparatus comprising:

a length of tubing;

a sleeve mounted on the tubing; and

the sleeve carrying landing means for engaging a restriction in thecasing, locking means for locking the sleeve relative to the casing, andsealing means for sealing the sleeve relative to the casing.

In use, the sleeve may serve an equivalent function to a conventionalpacker, that is locating and sealing the tubing relative to the casing(as used herein, the term “casing” is intended to encompass any linerprovided in a borehole). The tubing may be in the form of test tubing orproduction tubing.

Preferably, the sleeve is formed of a rigid material, typically steel.Thus, it is relatively easy to provide fluid communication passages, orcontrol lines, through the sleeve.

Preferably also, the sleeve is releasably retained on the tubing, suchthat the tubing may be moved relative to the “set” sleeve and may beretrieved from the borehole while the sleeve remains fixed in thecasing.

Preferably also, at least one of the sleeve and tubing carries a sealfor slidably engaging the other of the sleeve and tubing.

Preferably also, the sleeve defines means for engaging a retrieval tool:such means may be in the form of a J-slot, such that a tool may belowered and manipulated to engage the sleeve, further manipulated torelease the locking means, and then pulled to retrieve the sleeve.

Preferably also, the landing means is defined by a landing sleeve. Mostpreferably, the sealing means and locking means are carried by thelanding sleeve. In the preferred embodiment, the sealing means andlocking means are activated by upward longitudinal movement of thelanding sleeve relative to the sleeve on the landing sleeve engaging andbeing restrained against further longitudinal movement by its engagementwith a casing restriction. The landing sleeve may be initiallyreleasably retained relative to the sleeve by, for example, a shear pinor bolt. Preferably, ratchet means are provided between the landingsleeve and the sleeve for maintaining the relative longitudinalpositioning therebetween. The ratchet means may be releasable byrotation of the sleeve relative to the landing sleeve; on releasing theratchet means the landing sleeve is free to move relative to the sleeveand the locking means and the sealing means may be de-activated,releasing the sleeve from the casing.

Preferably also, the casing defines the restriction, and further maydefine profiles for receiving and cooperating with the locking means andsealing means.

In one embodiment of the invention perforating guns may be mounted onthe lower end of the tubing. Preferably, the guns are mounted on hollowtubing of the same or similar internal diameter to the tubing. Mostpreferably, the guns are full-bore, with strip gun-type charges embeddedinto hollow tubing. Alternatively, the guns may be mounted on the sleeveitself; the sleeve is capable of supporting a large amount of weight,and the guns will not then restrict the bore diameter and will permittubing to be run into the bottom of the sump. The perforating guns maybe made in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod of sealing and locating tubing in a casing-lined borehole, themethod comprising:

locating a sleeve on a length of tubing with a seal therebetween;

running the tubing into a borehole lined with casing until the sleeveengages a restriction in the casing, the engagement with the casingactivating sealing means and locking means on the sleeve to sealinglylocate the sleeve in the casing; and

releasing the sleeve from the tubing.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described,by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the lower portion of a boreholeincluding apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of one aspect thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, duringrun-in;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged sectional view of a portion of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a representation of a retrieval J-slot defined on theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lower end of a perforating gun section ofperforating apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the upper end of a perforating gunsection;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of two connected gun sections;

FIGS. 8a, 8 b and 8 c are half sectional views of a part of the firingsystem for the gun sections of FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIGS. 9a and 9 b are half sectional views of a further part of thefiring system for the gun sections of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 of the drawings, which illustrates thelower portion of a borehole 10 and including apparatus 12 in accordancewith an embodiment of one aspect of the present invention. The Figureshows the lower end of the borehole casing 14 which lines the borehole10 over the majority of its length and is set in the borehole usingconcrete. The casing 14 stops short of the end of the borehole 10 whichis initially sealed by a liner 16 located relative to the casing 14 by aliner hanger and seal 18. The liner 16 extends into the oil-bearingformation and is perforated, as will be described, to allow oil to flowfrom the formation into the borehole 10. The oil is carried to thesurface through production tubing 20 which, in this embodiment, extendsto the lower end of the borehole 10. The production tubing is locatedrelative to the casing 14 by a retrieval sleeve 22 forming part of thepresent invention. The retrieval sleeve 22 is located and sealedrelative to the casing 14 by locking means 24 and sealing means 26, asillustrated schematically in FIG. 1.

Reference is now also made to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, whichillustrate the sleeve 22 in greater detail. The sleeve 22 is initiallycarried by a section of the tubing 20 and is run into the borehole 10 onthe tubing 20; FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the sleeve still fixed relativeto the tubing 20.

In this particular embodiment the tubing 20 carries perforating guns forperforating the liner 16, the guns forming the lower end of the tubing20 and including a large number of strip gun type charges (not shown)located in corresponding apertures 32 in the tube 20. The chargesdisintegrate following detonation, leaving the apertures 32 asillustrated. The guns are in accordance with one embodiment of anotheraspect of the present invention, a further embodiment of this aspect ofthe invention being described separately, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8of the drawings.

The sleeve 22 is initially retained on the tubing 20 by a shear pin 34and a seal is provided between the tubing 20 and the sleeve 22 bycompletion seals 28.

The sleeve 22 itself carries a landing sleeve 36 which is initiallyfixed to the sleeve 22 by a shear pin 38. The landing sleeve 36 definesa shoulder 40 for engaging a corresponding shoulder 42 defined by acasing restriction 44. Above the restriction 44 the casing defines twoprofiles 46, 47 for receiving the sleeve lock means and seal means inthe form of a split lock ring 24 and a radially expandable seal 26. Theinner face of the landing sleeve 36 defines a ratchet thread 50 forengaging a ratch ring 52 mounted on the sleeve 22.

The upper end of the sleeve 22 defines a retrieval J-slot 54, shown insection in FIG. 3 and also illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The sleeve 22 is set in the casing 14 simply by running the tubing 20and sleeve 22 into the borehole until the landing sleeve shoulder 40engages the casing shoulder 42. The landing sleeve 36 is thus restrainedagainst further downward movement. Following shearing of the pin 38, thetubing 20 and sleeve 22 continue to move downward relative to thelanding sleeve 36 and this relative movement energises the split lockring 24 and the seal 26. The relative positioning of the sleeves 36, 22is maintained by the engagement of the ratchet thread 50 and ratch ring52. Application of further weight to the tubing 20 results in the pin 34shearing, such that the tubing 20 may now be moved longitudinallyrelative to the set sleeve 22.

In this particular embodiment, once the sleeve 22 is set, theperforating guns may be located in the liner 16 and the chargesdetonated to perforate the liner 16. As noted above, the charges willdisintegrate following detonating, such that production fluid may thenflow through the perforated liner 16 and the apertures 32 into the boreof the tubing 20 and then to the surface.

If the tubing 20 and guns are to be retrieved from the borehole 10, itis merely necessary to pull the tubing 20 upwardly, through the sleeve22. If the sleeve 22 is to be retrieved, a retrieval tool is loweredinto the borehole 10 and manipulated to engage the J-slot 54. The sleeve22 may then be rotated relative to the landing sleeve to disengage theratchet thread 50 and ratch ring 52. This de-energises the split lockring 24 and seal 26 such that the sleeve 22 may be pulled from theborehole.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 to 9 of the drawings, which illustrateelements of a perforating system in accordance with an embodiment of afurther aspect of the present invention. The apparatus comprises atubular perforating gun, made up of a plurality of gun sections 60, 61,comprising a section of tubing 62, 63. Apertures 64 are formed in eachsection of tubing 62, 63, the apertures 64 being arranged in sixlongitudinal rows (only three rows being visible in FIG. 5). Eachaperture 64 accommodates a perforating charge 66 located in therespective apertures 64 by an internally and externally threaded plasticcap 68. The charges 66 in each row are connected by a respectivedetonation cord 72. As may be seen in FIG. 6, each tubing end 63 isprovided with a sleeve 74 which supports a pair of explosive transferboosters or connectors 76, 77, each of which communicates with threedetonation cords 72. The boosters 76, 77 are adapted to co-operate withcorresponding boosters provided in the lower end of the adjacent tubingsection 62, a male booster in the form of a shaped charge 79 beingprovided to link the adjacent boosters.

To minimise the effect of poor or faulty links between the boosters inadjacent gun sections the boosters in each section connect to differentcords 72. In the absence of this feature it would be possible for asingle faulty link to prevent detonation of half of the charges belowthe fault. However, by varying the cord connections the effects of afaulty link will be minimised as the detonation signal will travel backup the cords from a link below the fault.

The adjacent ends of the tubing sections 62, 63 are connected by meansof a threaded sleeve 78 which is initially rotatably mounted on theupper end of the tubing section 63 and defines windows through which theshaped charges 79 may be passed for location in the slotted boosters 76,77. The sleeve 78 defines an internal thread 80 which is made up to acorresponding external thread 81 on the tubing section 62. Once thethreads are made up, grub screws are inserted in threaded bores 82 inthe sleeve 78 to lock the sleeve against rotation.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8a, 8 b, 8 c and 9 a and 9 b of thedrawings which illustrate details of the firing system for the gunsections 60, 61. This embodiment of the invention is intended for usewith the applicant's full bore isolation valve (FBIV) as described inPCT\GB97\00308. Part of the valve is illustrated in the upper portion ofthe Figures, the valve including a closure member 84 which is initiallyheld against a lower valve seat 87 by a locked retaining sleeve 88. Thevalve remains closed while completion testing is carried out on thetubing above the perforating apparatus, and after a predetermined numberof pressure cycles the retaining sleeve 88 is unlocked so that it may beretracted by application of bore pressure. As the sleeve 88 is retractedthe closure member 84 remains in contact with the valve seat 87 due tothe pressure differential across the closure member 84. However, oncepressure is bled off above the valve, the closure member 84 opens, andthe sleeve 88 is then extended into contact with the valve seat 86, toprovide a slick bore. Once the closure member 84 has opened the valveseat 86 may move axially upwardly relative to the valve body 90 underthe influence of a spring 92, to allow initiation the firing heads ofthe perforating system, as described below.

FIG. 8a illustrates the valve in the closed position, with the valveseat 86 being held axially relative to the valve body 90 by the lockedretaining sleeve 88. The valve seat 86 is formed on the upper end of thesleeve 94, the lower end of which engages the upper end of the spring92. The lower end of the spring 92 engages a shoulder formed on fingers98 which extends upwardly between the valve body 80 and the valve seatsleeve 94. The upper end of the fingers 98 are held relative to thevalve body 90 by a split ring 100 which is radially supported by thevalve seat sleeve 94 to engage with a profile 102 in the valve body 90.The lower end of the fingers 98 provide mounting for a firing pin 104which extends through a portion of the valve body and is positionedabove a firing head 106. The firing head connects to the detonationcord.

On the valve opening, and the valve seat 87 and valve seat sleeve 94moving upwardly relative to the body 90, an external profile on thesleeve 94 is positioned at the rear of the split ring 100, allowing thering 100 to collapse inwardly and the fingers 98 to move downwardlyunder the influence of the spring 92. The downward movement of thefinger 98 and firing pin 104 brings the end of the firing pin 104 intocontact with the firing head 106. This contact initiates detonation ofthe charges 66, which will normally occur two to three minutes after thecontact taking place.

FIGS. 8a, 8 b and 8 c illustrates a mechanical firing arrangement, and asomewhat similar firing arrangement is also provided on the apparatus,where movement of a firing pin completes an electrical connection toinitiate electrical firing of the charges. Further, the apparatus alsoincludes a hydraulically initiated firing system, as illustrated inFIGS. 9a and 9 b of the drawings. A hydraulic firing pin 108 is providedin the valve body 90 and is initially fixed to the valve body 90 by arupture disk 110. The upper face of the rupture disk 110 is incommunication with the valve bore 112 via a port 114 and a longitudinalpassage 115. Thus, if the mechanical or hydraulic firing system shouldfail, an increase in bore pressure will rupture the disk 110 allowingthe firing pin 108 to be pushed downwardly by fluid pressure to engagethe respective firing head 118. All of the firing systems may beoperated simultaneously, or the systems may be arranged such that theyoperate individually.

It is preferred that when the charges 66 are detonated the system isunderbalanced, that is the fluid pressure within the gun section 60, 61is lower than the formation pressure, such that the production fluidwill tend to wash the debris of the detonated charges 66, cord 72, andboosters 76, 77, 79 upwardly and out of the tubing. Accordingly, if thehydraulically initiated firing system is utilised, the two to threeminute delay between the contact of the firing pin 108 with the firinghead 118 and the detonation of the charges is utilised to bleed offpressure from the tubing.

As noted above, when detonation of the charges 66 occurs, the individualcharges 66 break up to leave the apertures 64 clear, and the detonationalso breaks up the cord 72 and the boosters 76, 77, 79. The resultingdebris is made up of small, relatively light parts, which may then bewashed from the tubing by the formation fluid which flows into the gunsections 60, 61.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above-describedembodiments of the present invention provides a cost effective and safemeans of perforating a large interval of liner. Mounting the perforatingguns on tubing as described above obviates the requirement to runperforating guns separately on wireline, coil tubing or the like andthus saves considerable time. Further, the sleeve 22 of the firstdescribed embodiment has a relatively small radial dimension whencompared to a conventional packer, such that the gun charges are locatedclose to the liner 16 and thus act more effectively when detonated.Further, in the first described embodiment, the tubing 20 and guns maybe released from the sleeve without difficulty, which option isgenerally not available with conventional packers. In addition, the setsleeve 22 may be retrieved from the borehole 10 without difficulty, incontrast to conventional packers which generally have to be milled out.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the apparatus of theembodiments of the present invention may be employed in many otherapplications in which some or all of the advantages outlined above maybe usefully applied. Further, the use of a solid metal sleeve 22facilitates provision of fluid communication lines through the sleeve.It will also be clear to those of skill in the art that theabove-described embodiments are merely exemplary of the presentinvention, and that various modifications and improvements may be madethereto without departing from the scope of the invention, for examplethe perforating guns may be mounted on an extended sleeve 22, ratherthan on the tubing 20, and the perforating guns may be utilised incombination with conventional tubing and inflatable packers.

What is claimed is:
 1. Perforating apparatus comprising a length oftubing mounted on the lower end of a length of one of production andtest tubing, the wall of the tubing defining a plurality of apertures,and perforating charges being located in the apertures, followingdetonation the apertures providing fluid communication between theexterior and the interior of the length of tubing so that fluid may flowinto the length of tubing via the apertures and then flow upwardlythrough the length of tubing and into the production or test tubing. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charges disintegrate on detonationto form light or small parts which may be swept out of a well byformation fluid.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, followingdetonation of the charges, the internal flow area of the tubingcorresponds to the tubing internal diameter.
 4. The apparatus of claim1, wherein each charge is locatable in a respective aperture from thetubing exterior.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each chargeincludes a cap adapted to engage with a respective aperture.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the charges are linked by detonationtransfer means for communicating a detonation signal to each charge. 7.The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the detonation transfer means extendsthrough the interior of the tubing.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe tubing is provided in separable tubing sections, each sectioncarrying a number of charges.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein thesections are connected by threaded collars rotatably mounted on the endof one section for engaging a corresponding threaded portion on the endof an adjacent section.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein thesections are provided with connecting boosters for connecting detonationtransfer means in adjacent tubing sections.
 11. The apparatus of claim10, wherein the connecting boosters are accessible when the adjacenttubing sections are placed together and a connector completing boosteris locatable therebetween.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising firing means for initiating detonation of the charges. 13.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein he firing means is activated by oneor more of an electrical signal, hydraulic pressure or mechanicalaction.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the firing means isprovided in combination with a valve including a valve portion which ismovable on pressure being bled off above the valve and the valveopening, which movement releases a firing pin actuating arrangement. 15.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the firing means s pressure actuated,and includes a firing pin initially retained by a retainer whichreleases the firing pin on application of a predetermined fluid pressurethereto.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plug is provided at theend of the tubing, which plug is blown from the tube when the chargesare detonated.
 17. A method of perforating wellbore liner, the methodcomprising: providing perforating apparatus comprising a length oftubing, the wall of the tubing defining a plurality of apertures, andperforating charges being located in the apertures; mounting theperforating apparatus on the lower end of a length of production or testtubing; positioning the perforating apparatus in a lined section ofwellbore; and detonating the charges to open the tubing apertures andperforate the wellbore liner such that formation fluid flows through theapertures and into the tubing, flows upwardly through the length oftubing, and from the tubing flows into the production or test tubing.18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pressure within the tubing islower than the pressure in a formation externally of the liner suchthat, following perforation, fluid from the formation will tend to flowthrough the apertures into the tubing.
 19. Perforating apparatuscomprising a length of tubing mounted on the lower end of a length ofone of production and test tubing and in fluid communication therewith,and a plurality of perforating charges mounted in the tubing, followingdetonation apertures in the wall of the tubing providing fluidcommunication between the exterior and the interior of the length oftubing so that fluid may flow into the length of tubing via theapertures and then upwardly through the tubing and into the productionor test tubing.
 20. A method of perforating wellbore liner, the methodcomprising: providing perforating apparatus comprising a length oftubing, and a plurality of perforating charges mounted in the tubing;mounting the perforating apparatus on the lower end of a length ofproduction or test tubing; positioning the perforating apparatus in alined section of wellbore; and detonating the charges to open aperturesin the wall of the tubing and perforate the wellbore liner such thatformation fluid flows through said apertures and into the tubing, flowsupwardly through the length of tubing, and flows from the tubing intothe production or test tubing.